Donald Trump has accused Democrats of 'BIG cheating' in California's gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral primary races, making the allegations without providing any evidence. The former president took to his Truth Social platform to claim that Democrats were attempting to 'steal' the elections, questioning the 'very late and massive numbers of MAIL IN BALLOTS' and the delays in vote counting.
Premature Congratulations
Trump's accusations came before final results were tallied for California's open primary, where the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. In a premature move, Trump congratulated Steve Hilton on winning the gubernatorial primary, despite the results not being confirmed. He pledged federal support if Hilton were to become governor.
Echoes of 2020
These claims mirror Trump's unsubstantiated allegations of widespread fraud following the 2020 presidential election, which culminated in the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump has repeatedly asserted that mail-in voting is prone to fraud, despite numerous studies and court rulings finding no evidence of significant irregularities.
As vote counting continues in California, election officials have emphasized that the process is transparent and secure. The state's open primary system allows all voters to participate, regardless of party, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election. Trump's remarks have drawn criticism from Democrats and election integrity advocates, who accuse him of undermining public confidence in the democratic process.
